What Actor's Express does

Actor's Express is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional theatre company founded in 1988 and based in Atlanta, Georgia. Operating from the King Plow Arts Center in West Midtown, the company produces a five-show mainstage season of plays and musicals, with a programming focus on bold, contemporary, and provocative works that include Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning productions (e.g., A Strange Loop, Topdog/Underdog, Doubt A Parable, Choir Boy, Wit). The company operates under an Actors' Equity Small Professional Theatre Agreement (Category 4) and serves Atlanta-area theatre-goers, arts patrons, students, and the LGBTQ+ community, while developing new work through National New Play Network partnerships and a recurring co-production relationship with Oglethorpe University Theatre at the Conant Performing Arts Center.

The organization's product portfolio extends beyond the mainstage season to include the Libby's at the Express cabaret series (in partnership with Atlanta cabaret legend Libby Whittemore), Candybox Revue burlesque events, Olive & Agatha's drag performances, educational classes (clown, improv, costume design), an Apprentice Company program that trains approximately 10-15 emerging artists annually, and an annual Fearless Gala fundraiser. The core technology is standard theatrical production infrastructure (lighting, sound, scenic design), with box office and ticketing operations handled through a third-party platform and the website built on WordPress. No proprietary technology or AI/ML capabilities are indicated.

The business model is a hybrid of earned and contributed revenue typical of mid-sized US non-profit theatres. Earned revenue comes from season subscriptions ($199 Standard, $214 All Access), single ticket sales, group discounts, gift certificates, classes, and space rentals. Contributed revenue, which represents more than half of operating funds, is sourced from individual donations (tiered $100-$10,000+), monthly A-List pledges, Legacy Society planned gifts, corporate sponsorships ($1,000-$10,000), government arts grants (City of Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia Council for the Arts, NEA), and foundation grants (Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Shubert Foundation, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via website, box office phone, and on-site sales, supplemented by Eventbrite for select events.

Name

Actor's Express

Legal name

Actor's Express, Inc.

Website

https://actors-express.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Actor's Express is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional theatre in Atlanta, founded in 1988, producing a five-show mainstage season of bold contemporary plays and musicals, plus cabaret, burlesque, classes, and an apprentice program, funded through ticket sales, donations, and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Performing arts center
• Theatrical season subscriptions
• Arts education classes
• Community theatre programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Single tickets and subscription packages for mainstage productions, preview performances, and special events (cabarets, burlesque shows). Ticket sales account for less than half of the theatre's operating funds.
2. Season Subscriptions: Annual season subscriptions including Standard Subscription ($199 for Season 38) and All Access Pass ($214), providing reserved seating and perks such as buddy passes and VIP access.
3. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors at various levels ($100+, $500+, $1,000+, $5,000+, $10,000+) with corresponding perks including program listings, drink tickets, reserved seating, and gala invitations.
4. Monthly Pledges (A-List): Recurring monthly donations through the A-List program with tiered benefits including free drinks at shows and invitations to 'Fridays with Freddie' sessions.
5. Planned Giving / Legacy Society: Bequests, wills, living trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and other estate-planned gifts through the Legacy Society.
6. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Georgia Council for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and foundation partners including Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Shubert Foundation, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
7. Corporate Sponsorships: Production sponsorships and gala sponsorships from corporate partners including Budget Rent-a-Car, Gilead Sciences, Warner Bros. Discovery, and others. Sponsorship packages range from $1,000 to $10,000.
8. Apprentice Program Fees: Administrative apprentices may earn academic credit; apprentices receive a $400 per production stipend.
9. In-Kind Donations: Donations of postage, storage space, truck rental, marketing materials, and advertising from community members.
10. Group Sales: Discounted bulk ticket sales for groups of 10 or more, with $5 off for groups of 10-24 and $8 off for groups of 25+. Benefit groups (nonprofits) can purchase minimum 25 preview tickets at discounted rates for fundraising.
11. Space Rentals: The theatre space is available for rental; inquiries directed to the managing director's office.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Actor's Express is a non-profit professional theatre that produces a five-show mainstage season of plays and musicals each year, supplemented by cabaret, burlesque, and drag performances. The company also runs an Apprentice Company training program, theatre arts classes, donor and membership programs, and an annual fundraising gala. Operations are housed at an intimate 200-seat venue in Atlanta's King Plow Arts Center under an Actors' Equity Small Professional Theatre Agreement (Category 4).

Product overview

Actor's Express is a non-profit theatre company operating as Atlanta's destination for bold and adventurous theatre. The organization produces a five-show mainstage season of plays and musicals, complemented by cabaret programming (Libby's at the Express), burlesque shows (Candybox Revue partnership), drag performances (Olive & Agatha's), and educational classes. The company operates under an Actors' Equity Small Professional Theatre Agreement (Category 4) from its location in West Midtown's King Plow Arts Center, with co-productions at Oglethorpe University's Conant Performing Arts Center. Revenue streams include season subscriptions, single tickets, classes, special events, and donor support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Season Subscription Packages Annual subscriptions covering the five-show mainstage season. Standard Subscription priced at $199 with buddy pass perk; All Access Pass at $214 for opening night tickets and unlimited return visits; Three Show Flex Package at $110. Includes free ticket exchanges and reserved seating.
• Single Tickets Individual tickets to mainstage productions, cabaret performances, burlesque shows, and special events, with student ($25), senior (10% off), military, and Pay-What-You-Can industry Wednesday pricing.
• Season 38 Mainstage Productions The current mainstage season of five plays and musicals, including world premieres, Atlanta premieres, and a co-production with Oglethorpe University Theatre.
• Libby's at the Express (Cabaret) Annual cabaret series featuring Atlanta legend Libby Whittemore, with holiday shows and Valentine's Day performances, often featuring Connie Sue Day.
• Candybox Revue Burlesque Partnership Burlesque performances presented in partnership with The Candybox Revue, including seasonal shows such as Brrr-Lesque Winter Spectacular and In the Mood for Burlesque (Valentine's Day).
• Olive & Agatha's Drag Cabaret Drag queen cabaret performances featuring an irreverent retelling of the Nativity and improvisation, presented in partnership with Candybox Revue.
• Actor's Express Classes Educational programming including Introduction to Clown for the Working Actor, Beginning Improv, and Beginner Costume Design taught by industry professionals.
• Apprentice Company Program One-year intensive training program for emerging theatre professionals across acting, directing, stage management, and technical disciplines. Includes practicum work, up to ten classes with working professionals, and a $400 per production stipend.
• Group Sales & Private Events Discounted bulk ticket sales for groups of 10+ ($5 off) and 25+ ($8 off), with special student group rates for evening and Sunday matinee performances, plus private event options.
• Fearless Gala (Annual Fundraiser) Annual fundraising gala featuring food, drinks, cabaret curated by Artistic Director Freddie Ashley, reserved table seating, and auctions to support Actor's Express operations.
• Gift Certificates Digital gift certificates redeemable for tickets to any production, class, or subscription.
• A-List Monthly Giving Program Recurring monthly donation program with tiered benefits including free drinks at shows and invitations to 'Fridays with Freddie' sessions with the Artistic Director.
• Legacy Society Planned Giving Planned giving program accepting bequests, wills, living trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and other estate-planned gifts from supporters.
• Theatre Space Rentals The theatre space at the King Plow Arts Center is available for rental for outside productions and events; inquiries directed to the Managing Director's office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ticket sales account for less than half of operating funds, demonstrating a diversified contributed revenue model
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oglethorpe University TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing co-production partnership with Oglethorpe University Theatre. Season 37 featured 'Marie Antoinette' (David Adjmi) co-produced at the Conant Performing Arts Center on Oglethorpe's campus. Season 38 features 'Girl From The North Country' as a co-production. This is AE's fifth co-production with the university, demonstrating a deep, multi-year partnership for new play development and audience building.
• National New Play Network (NNPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember and active user of NNPN, collaborating on new play development, rolling world premieres, and playwright commission programs. NNPN is an alliance of 110+ professional theatres. AE participated in the National Showcase of New Plays and Rolling World Premiere program, including producing 'Venus' by Steve Yockey as a NNPN Rolling World Premiere.
• Budget Rent-a-CarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason 39 Fearless Gala sponsor. Budget Rent-a-Car provides gala sponsorship in exchange for brand visibility and association with the annual fundraising event.
• Gilead SciencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship of 'A Strange Loop' production. Gilead Sciences sponsored the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical as part of its corporate giving and healthcare mission alignment.
• Warner Bros. DiscoveryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship of 'A Strange Loop' production. Warner Bros. Discovery provided production sponsorship for the Broadway-winning musical, aligning with the company's entertainment and media presence.
• Counter Narrative ProjectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 'Topdog/Underdog' (Suzan-Lori Parks), a contemporary play addressing themes of race and brotherhood relevant to the Counter Narrative Project's mission.
• Chicory WealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of multiple productions including 'Topdog/Underdog', 'Choir Boy', 'The Thin Place', and 'Doubt, A Parable'. Chicory Wealth and The Counter Narrative Project also co-sponsored the College Night for 'Choir Boy'.
• Viiv HealthcareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of College Night for 'Choir Boy' at Actor's Express, supporting access to the arts for college students.
• Libby WhittemorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlanta cabaret legend Libby Whittemore has an ongoing partnership with Actor's Express for annual cabaret shows including 'Ho, Ho, Home for the Holidays and A Connie Sue Day Christmas' (a recurring holiday tradition) and Valentine's Day cabarets. Her shows are among the theatre's most popular events.
• Candybox RevuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlanta's premier burlesque ensemble in recurring partnership with Actor's Express for burlesque events including 'In the Mood for Burlesque' (Valentine's Day), 'Brrr-Lesque Winter Spectacular', and 'Love Bites'. The partnership includes the Olive & Agatha's drag queen shows at the theatre.
• Theatrical OutfitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlanta theatre partner involved in the 'Made in Atlanta' LAUNCHPAD Festival. 'Venus' by Steve Yockey was originally developed through this festival at Theatrical Outfit before premiering at Actor's Express as part of NNPN's Rolling World Premiere program.
• King Plow Arts CentercoreOthersActor's Express is housed within the King Plow Arts Center, one of Atlanta's largest commercial, performing and visual arts centers, converted from a former factory. The arts center manages parking on campus ($12 per show) and provides a community of allied arts organizations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Center for Puppetry Arts: Atlanta-based major arts organization also located in West Midtown. Comparable as a co-located professional arts institution sharing the donor and audience pool, though specializing in puppetry rather than live dramatic theatre.

Direct peers

• Horizon Theatre Company: Atlanta-based professional theatre producing a season of contemporary plays and premieres with strong new-work orientation. Comparable as a similarly sized Atlanta professional nonprofit theatre with a focus on bold, contemporary American work.
• Synchronicity Theatre: Atlanta-based professional theatre producing works by and about women. Comparable as a small Atlanta professional nonprofit theatre with similar headcount, mission-driven programming, and donor-dependent revenue model.
• Aurora Theatre: Lawrenceville, GA-based professional theatre producing a mainstage season plus comedy and cabaret programming. Closely comparable as a Georgia-based nonprofit regional theatre of similar size producing bold, contemporary works with strong audience-development programming.
• Theatrical Outfit: Downtown Atlanta professional theatre producing a contemporary season with new play development focus. Active co-development partner of Actor's Express (originated 'Venus' through the LAUNCHPAD Festival), making it both a peer and a strategic collaborator with overlapping artistic leadership.
• Alliance Theatre: Atlanta's flagship regional theatre (also located in the Woodruff Arts Center) producing a mainstage season of plays and musicals, including new works and Pulitzer/Tony-caliber productions. Directly comparable as a professional Equity theatre operating in the same metro with similar mission and programming scope, though at a larger scale and budget tier.
• Out Front Theatre Company: Atlanta-based professional theatre producing works exploring LGBTQ+ experiences. Comparable as a small Atlanta professional nonprofit theatre with mission-driven bold programming and similar production scale.
• Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company: Atlanta-based professional theatre producing a season of works centering African American experience. Comparable as a similarly sized Atlanta professional nonprofit theatre sharing the same audience-development and donor pool.

Regional players

• Georgia Ensemble Theatre: Roswell, GA-based professional theatre producing a contemporary season. Comparable as a Georgia regional theatre with similar size, subscription model, and educational programming, though serving the north Atlanta suburbs.
• The Hippodrome Theatre: Gainesville, FL-based regional professional theatre. Comparable as a similarly sized Southeast regional theatre producing a mix of plays, musicals, and new works, but serving a different metro market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AExpress
• Instagraminstagram.com/aexpress
• Xx.com/AExpress

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Actor's Express